Next Year in Israel

by Sarah Bridgeton

I stood up; a group of Asian tourists was in front of the entrance, peering into the chains. “They want to come into your store.”

  “Anything else you want to buy?” asked the one who wanted to arrange his son’s marriage.

  “Nah,” I said.

  “Actually, she’s looking for gifts,” Mia answered.

  He lifted the chains up haphazardly. “I will sell you my best Jerusalem candlestick holders for fifteen shekels. That’s five less than regular.”

  “She needs two sets,” Mia said.

  ‘Geez, Mia,’ I wanted to say.

  His smile seemed genuine as he picked up a set of holders from the display table. They were round, elaborately engraved in a pattern of the Wall. “Two for thirty.”

  Mom and Dad would love them.

  Mia walked towards the door.

  “Two, for twenty-five,” he said.

  “Twenty,” I said.

  “Twenty-one.” He got out a plastic bag and tissue paper.

  “Okay.”

  In the crowded alleyway, I spoke up. “Weren’t you scared when they closed the store for our tea party?”

  “They were just being friendly. I dunno. It might be an Arab custom.”

  “Don’t you think they might have hurt us if the other tourists hadn’t showed up?”

  “No. There were two of us.”

  “Tourists have been killed here before.”

  “I know, I decided to trust that nothing would happen.”

  ~ * * * ~

  Back on the bus, Ben picked up my bag. “How much did you pay for your goodies?”

  “Twenty-two shekels,” I said.

  “Twenty-one,” Mia corrected me.

  “You should have let me barter for you,” Ben said. “I could have gotten him lower.”

  “Yeah, thanks to Mia, I probably got ripped off.” I watched the streetlights begin to illuminate in the dusk and turned off Mia’s iPod. Her music collection consisted of folksy artists who I didn’t listen to.

  Jake sat down next to me. “I’m bored.”

  “Music?” I offered him Mia’s headphones.

  “What’s up with you and your Israeli boyfriend?”

  I fiddled with the cord. “His name’s Avi. We’re friends.”

  He smiled. “Friends with benefits?”

  “None of your business.”

  “C’mon, tell me. How far have you gone?”

  I shook my head and laughed.

  “I’ll tell you whatever you want about me. How far I’ve gone.”

  Who doesn’t want to know that kind of information? Certainly, I did. I glanced around. Mia and Ben were sleeping, her head resting on his shoulder. Everyone else was talking or had their headphones on. The bus driver was listening to the news on the radio. Chatterbox and Leah sat two rows ahead.

  “My son’s a lawyer,” Chatterbox said.

  “Is he married?” Leah asked.

  Chatterbox sipped his canteen. “Baby number three will be born in six months. My other son’s engaged. His—”

  “My four daughters are all married,” Leah interrupted. “The youngest just had grandchild number nine. The oldest is hoping for twins—”

  Chatterbox cut in. “The engaged couple plans to start a family on their honeymoon.”

  If Jake and I whispered, nobody would hear our conversation. He probably wouldn’t admit anything. It was probably flirty talk that would end with him dodging his own question. “You first,” I said.

  He inched closer. “All the way, before. Once.”

  My face flushed.

  “What about you?”

  I paused for a second. Should I tell him to get lost? I didn’t want to. “Avi and I kissed.”

  Jake smiled. “Hmm.”

  “It was my first kiss,” I tagged on.

  “Did you tell him it was your first?”

  “Nah.”

  “You should have. How special, and he doesn’t know.”

  Maybe he could be helpful. He was, after all, the experienced one. “I need a guy’s opinion.”

  “Sure.” Jake took Mia’s headphones, which I had put down between us.

  “He’s quiet, like me.” I intentionally didn’t add a comment about being smart. “I don’t know if it was a one-time thing, or if he wants to be my boyfriend.”

  Jake’s smile vanished. “If there’s no kiss next time you see him, move on.”

  I smiled in anticipation. On Friday, I’d find out.

  Chapter 13

  “WAKE UP, LOVES,” LEAH SAID on Friday morning. “Hurry up if you want breakfast.”

  “Thanks, Leah.” I lay in my bed, awake. My entire body tingled. In my dream, Jake and I had been kissing. It had been a long kiss that went on and on, and when he moved his hands from the small of my back to the buttons on my shirt, I melted underneath his touch.

  Mia swung her leg on the floor. “Why are you smiling?”

  “Weird dream.” He had taken off his shirt, and I kissed him again until we stopped for a breath, then we both lay down. I rolled over on top of him, until I slowly arched myself up.

  “Do you remember it?”

  “Nah, think I’ll hang out here this weekend.” I was supposed to go to Avi’s for our rescheduled date.

  Mia opened her cubby. “Giving Avi a taste of being stood up?”

  “We have a Hebrew quiz on Sunday.” I hated hearing myself use an excuse.

  Mia smiled. “Avi can quiz you.”

  True, but Jake had been talking to me between classes. It was mostly the same flirty talk he used on Mia and Jordyn, but something had changed between us. On Wednesday, he had asked me if I had any brothers or sisters. I had said no and asked him about our history homework. “Jake’s in advanced Hebrew,” I said.

  “See, you like him.”

  Did she have to say it aloud, like I was positive about it? It was only a dream. “As a friend.”

  “It’s more than a friend.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m calling Avi after school. Don’t tell Ben anything.”

  After Hebrew class, I walked over to Jake in the hallway. I wanted to be friendly, yet normal. He opened his mouth. His lips were perfect, not uneven with a thin top lip and fat bottom one. “Hey, Becca. Looking sexy today.”

  My palms got sweaty. Did he suspect I had dreamed about him? I needed to say something smart. “I might go to Avi’s.” I threw back my shoulders. “Any pointers?”

  “Will you kiss him again?” He said playfully.

  “Maybe.” I stepped toward Mia and Ben.

  I pulled Mia’s arm. “Excuse us, Ben. I need her for a minute.”

  She looked at Ben, who was standing there, not really watching us. “Becca’s staying—”

  “Shush. I told Jake I might go to Avi’s.”

  “Good strategy. Let’s sit with him at lunch.”

  “Absolutely not.” I needed to size up the situation more before I made a mistake. “He might just want to be friends.”

  “Are you two coming to lunch?” Ben yelled from the steps.

  “In a few minutes. Save—”

  I kicked Mia’s ankle. It could end up a disaster.

  Mia’s eyes danced. “He wants you too.”

  “Shush,” I repeated.

  Ben walked over to us. “What was that?”

  Jake waved to me from the steps. I waved back. Waving meant nothing. He waved to everybody.

  “We’ll catch up with you later,” I said.

  Ben kissed Mia’s forehead, near her eyebrow. “Wait up, Jake.”

  “Be a little more obvious,” Mia said.

  I needed to take small steps. It was my chance to hang out with the star of my dream, and I couldn’t let it slip away. “I’ll call Avi.” It’d be rude to show up at his house if I was obsessing about Jake.

  Mia took her hand out of her pocket. “Here’s my phone.”

  I picked up my backpack. “I’ll use mine.”

  She giggled. “I’m about to witness something major.” />
  “Should I do it here?” I said. “Maybe I should call from our room?”

  “Now or never.”

  We walked down the steps quietly. It wasn’t a dream. It was real. And it was the biggest break of my new life.

  “Call his house ‘cause he’s at school.”

  That was lame. He wouldn’t answer, and I’d be blowing him off in a message. I might as well text him if I wanted to be a jerk. On the other hand, if I called and spoke with Tova, it might seem less jerky. I dialed Avi’s number shakily.

  “Hallo.” It was Tova.

  “Hi, Tova. It’s Rebecca. Is Avi there?”

  “Lo, he’s still at school.”

  “Something came up. I won’t be coming to visit tonight.” I couldn’t use a fake excuse.

  “Are you sick?”

  “Lo.” I swallowed. “I’ll come next Friday.”

  “Good. You have homework?”

  “Ken,” I said. It was kind of true. “I have a history essay due on Sunday.”

  Was I making a stupid decision? Avi had kissed me. I liked him. There was no guarantee anything would happen between Jake and me.

  “I look forward to seeing you next Friday. Please tell Avi shalom for me.” I hung up before she had a chance to ask me another question.

  “I’m glad you’re staying this weekend,” Mia said.

  “Me, too.”

  ~ * * * ~

  At lunch, Mia and I sat down five tables behind Ben and Jake. It was close enough for me to see him, but far enough away that he couldn’t hear us.

  “He’s walking over,” Mia said as I looked at the piano and pretended not to notice.

  I scooted in my chair. I needed to hint but not be lame.

  Jake squatted down, so his eyes were at my level. “Need your advice.”

  “Fire away.” I smiled.

  “Do you think Jordyn would kiss me?”

  I bumped the leg of the table. Mia waved to Ben.

  Jake’s gaze locked straight onto mine. “What do you think? Would she go for me?”

  Jordyn? I didn’t want to hear him talk about her. I wanted him to want me. “She’s not for you.”

  “Why not?” Jake glanced at the food cart approaching our table. “Hey, Jordyn. What’s up?”

  Jordyn placed a tray of hard-boiled eggs on our table and moved on.

  “See?” I jiggled the tray of eggs. “Want one?”

  He laughed. “When are you leaving for the weekend?”

  Mia kicked me underneath the table. I glanced at her. Did she expect me to blurt out that I changed my plans for him?

  “Actually, I’m staying here this weekend.”

  He looked at me for a moment. “Cool. See ya.”

  He didn’t want me! “Bye.”

  Mia watched him sit down with Ben. “He’s totally into you.”

  “He asked me about Jordyn.”

  “He barely noticed her. Why don’t I tell Ben you want to hook up with him?”

  “Bad idea. It’s immature.” I mashed up one of those hard-boiled eggs.

  “Don’t worry. He won’t ditch you without a kiss first.”

  I scooped a tablespoon of Gevina cheese into my bowl. Gevina tasted like cream cheese and sour cream mixed together.

  “Want to wonder What if forever?”

  Mia was right. Nothing was gonna happen unless I took a chance. It was time for the new me to snatch an adorable boyfriend. “Do it now before I chicken out.”

  Mia sauntered over to Ben’s table.

  My heart thudded as I chewed my egg salad, and I didn’t dare to turn around. It would have been like watching an overtime shootout in a hockey game. It took her exactly twenty seconds to return.

  “What did Ben say?” I had to ask.

  “He’ll take care of it.”

  I giggled and hoped it would be immediately.

  “Ben’s talking to him now. You two would make the cutest couple.” Mia poured me water, lifting the pitcher up and away from my glass in a waterfall effect. “He’s walking toward us; talk about work.”

  I exhaled. There wasn’t much to say about being a maid. “Let’s clean the bathroom first today.”

  “That would be good,” Mia said.

  “It’s full of crap,” I said.

  Jake tapped me on the shoulder. “Want to study tonight in your room?”

  I missed a breath. Study in my room meant making out. “Sure,” I managed to say.

  “Gotta get to the fields. I’ll come by after dinner.”

  “Bye.” I wanted to jump up and down. It was gonna happen. Me. Him. Kissing.

  “I’ll go to Ben’s room as soon as he shows up,” Mia said on the way to our room. “You may straighten my bed.” Neat me picked up Mia’s clothes that landed everywhere except her cubby. She didn’t mind as long as I left her bed alone.

  “Dinner will be awesome. Maybe I’ll wear my black skirt and burgundy sweater.”

  Mia kicked a pebble off her fur-lined Croc. She insisted on wearing her Crocs without socks, even though the weather was chilly. “Don’t stay dressed up for him. Be casual.”

  “Yeah, I’ll change into jeans. Work’s gonna take forever.” How would I get through it when my dream about Jake was about to come true? We’d be kissing in my room on my bed!

  I pranced down our hallway. It was gonna be the best Shabbat.

  Mia followed. “You and Jake can double date with Ben and me.”

  I slid our door open. All of our clothes were tossed on the floor next to our sheets and blankets. Leah was rummaging through our stuff like the airline security guard who had inspected my luggage. “I found drugs in the other dorm. Those students are going home on the next available flight. Pass me your bookbags.” The purple veins burst from her neck as she searched. “Everyone stays in their rooms after work. No Shabbat dinner. No socializing.”

  I squinted at her. The restriction would ruin my plans. I waited for Mia to argue the group punishment was unfair, but she sat down on her bed. Her freckles seemed to turn to an ashy white shade.

  “I will be checking on you every hour,” Leah said on her way out of our room. “I’m disappointed in all of you.”

  Mia reached for her pillowcase that had been tossed on the floor. It had an ink stain the kfar laundry hadn’t been able to get out after her pen had leaked while she had done homework on her pillow. “Who do you think it was?”

  “Dunno.”

  “Too bad we’re grounded tonight,” Mia said.

  I picked up my sheets. “Yeah, no kissing Jake.”

  ~ * * * ~

  “Let’s go find Jake,” Mia said when Leah lifted our restriction the next day. The students who had gotten caught were on their way home.

  “How do I look?” I brushed my hair and fake-smiled.

  “Fine.”

  “I have bags.” I dusted powder under my eyes. I had been up until midnight, upset about Leah’s unfair group punishment. Oh, well. I’d just have to cover up those dark circles.

  “He won’t notice.”

  “I hope not.” I wondered how long I’d have to wait for the kiss. Would it be there in his dorm? In his room? Would it play out like Mia and Ben’s hookup? Or would we sneak off somewhere by ourselves? The hallway? Outside? Would he suggest studying in my room again? In that case, it could be hours before we kissed. I felt happy as we walked to his dorm. We had been at the kfar for two and a half months, and I had already gone from a never-been-kissed dweeb to cool-girl Becca.

  We went to Jake’s room first. His bed was made. The sheets and blanket were tucked in tight, and the pillow was in the middle of a perfectly folded sheet. Good. He was a neat freak too. I wondered where he was, but I didn’t say anything. Maybe he was in Ben’s room.

  “Have you seen Jake?” Mia asked Ben when we got to his room, which was the next one over.

  “He went to the beach. Left an hour ago.” Ben shrugged.

  Why’d he go to the beach? Something felt wrong. Like he went so he wouldn
’t have to see me.

  “I’m going to the bathroom.” Mia read my mind.

  “I’ll go with you.” I followed her into the hallway, my heart thudding.

  “Jake’s not blowing you off.”

  “He is.” He knew I was into him. Why didn’t he tell Ben that he’d see me later? Why did he just leave?”

  “He’ll come by later,” Mia said. “He probably didn’t want to smother you by showing up at our room this morning.”

  “I have a really bad feeling.” I sounded shaky. I needed to pull myself together. Mia hadn’t seen me upset, and my image would take a beating if she did. Losers cried, like I had at home, and I didn’t want to regress.

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  “He’s changed his mind,” I said, then bit my tongue.

  “Hang out with Ben and me the rest of the day. We’ll listen to music.”

  I had to be strong. Ben would tell Jake if I ran to my room in tears. “Okay, for a couple of songs.”

  That afternoon, we ran into Jordyn, smoking a cigarette on the grass with her new roommates. “The guys who went to the beach made out with some girls,” she said.

  She was talking to me. I felt blood rushing to my face as if I had been slapped.

  Jordyn smiled. “I overheard them talking in the bathroom. You’re Jake’s best friend. Can you ask him out for me? ‘Cause I’ve got a crush on him.”

  “Shut up,” Mia said. “C’mon.” She led me to our room.

  I sat down on my bed. “I can’t go to dinner.”

  “Don’t believe her. She’s lying like she did about me. Jake’s a good guy.”

  “I’m going to the Deleck.” I couldn’t deal with Jordyn.

  “Give him a chance.”

  “Why didn’t he invite me to the beach?” Ugh. My wall was crumbling down. Mia knew I was freaking out inside.

  ~ * * * ~

  The situation didn’t improve at the Deleck. As soon as we walked in, I spotted Jake. He was in front of the cash register, standing alone, paying for a sandwich. Mia bit her lip. I immediately turned around to head out the door, but Mia took my arm and pulled me further inside. She obviously wasn’t going to let me run and hide. I tried to pull myself together as she led me to Jake.

  “Hi,” I said stiffly, hoping he’d tell me it was a big misunderstanding.

  He looked at the counter. “Hey.”

  “How was the beach?” Mia said.